Who's Playing

Middle Tenn. @ North Texas

Current Records: Middle Tenn. 9-5; North Texas 8-4

What to Know

The North Texas Mean Green's homestand continues as they prepare to take on the Middle Tenn. Blue Raiders at 6 p.m. ET Jan. 8 at The Super Pit. The Mean Green are out to stop a three-game streak of losses at home.

North Texas was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap on Thursday as they fell 69-63 to the UAB Blazers. North Texas got double-digit scores from four players: guard Mardrez McBride (17), guard Tylor Perry (15), forward Thomas Bell (10), and forward Abou Ousmane (10).

Meanwhile, Middle Tenn. was close but no cigar on Thursday as they fell 65-61 to the Rice Owls. The losing side was boosted by forward DeAndre Dishman, who had 12 points in addition to six boards.

North Texas is the favorite in this one, with an expected 11.5-point margin of victory. Those burned by picking them against the spread on Thursday might want to keep in mind that the squad has not yet dropped back-to-back games against the spread this season.

North Texas is now 8-4 while the Blue Raiders sit at 9-5. A couple stats to keep an eye on: The Mean Green enter the contest with only 10.7 turnovers per game on average, good for 28th best in college basketball. But Middle Tenn. comes into the matchup boasting the 26th most takeaways per game in college basketball at 16.9. We'll see which of these strengths -- offense or defense -- will win out.

How To Watch

  • When: Saturday at 6 p.m. ET
  • Where: The Super Pit -- Denton, Texas
  • Follow: CBS Sports App
  • Ticket Cost: $15.00

Odds

The Mean Green are a big 11.5-point favorite against the Blue Raiders, according to the latest college basketball odds.

The oddsmakers were right in line with the betting community on this one, as the game opened as an 11.5-point spread, and stayed right there.

Over/Under: -109

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Series History

North Texas and Middle Tenn. both have three wins in their last six games.

  • Mar 10, 2021 - North Texas 76 vs. Middle Tenn. 56
  • Feb 06, 2020 - North Texas 75 vs. Middle Tenn. 70
  • Jan 26, 2019 - North Texas 70 vs. Middle Tenn. 53
  • Feb 10, 2018 - Middle Tenn. 79 vs. North Texas 73
  • Jan 07, 2017 - Middle Tenn. 79 vs. North Texas 68
  • Jan 21, 2016 - Middle Tenn. 86 vs. North Texas 64